Published: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 11:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 11:26 p.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Down by two points with 7.5 seconds remaining, Kilgore (Texas) College head coach Brian Hoberecht came up with what he thought was a perfect play against the 2-3 zone defense Spartanburg Methodist had been using the entire game.

One problem. SMC switched to a 1-3-1 zone.

Confused and a bit panicked, the Rangers could only manage a long 3-point shot that was guarded by two SMC players, DaQuan Jeffries and D.J. Coleman.

The ball bounced off the rim as the final horn sounded and the Pioneers held on for a 53-51 win to make the quarterfinals of the NJCAA tournament at the Hutchinson (Kan.) Sports Arena.

"We drew up a set play and they did a good job of not allowing it to happen," Hoberecht said. "That's what you run into in tournaments like this when you don't get to see a team three or four times. The play that we drew up would have been better suited against the 2-3 zone. That's my fault in preparation, not knowing that they might go to a 1-3-1 right there. … I thought we got a decent look at it. The ball had a chance to go in. But it wasn't our first or second option."

In the other huddle, SMC head coach Jeff Brookman had decided, to put it in baseball language, to throw Kilgore a late-breaking curve ball.

"I figured (Hoberecht) was probably looking for us to come out in what we'd been doing the whole game," Brookman said. "But we've done this in the past. The guys are comfortable doing it. I asked them if that's what they felt comfortable in doing to get a stop and they said yes.

"… With the 1-3-1, we're playing the passing lanes. The 2-3 is more packed in. Instead of that, we're extended a little bit and trying to use our length. With only seven seconds left, we wanted to slow them up for a second or two and by the time they realized what we were in, maybe it would be too late."

What must have rattled the Rangers most is that the front man in SMC's 1-3-1 zone defense is not a guard but one of the biggest players, 6-foor-5 Jalen Nesbitt and his incredible wingspan. He jumped out there on Kilgore point guard Lonnie McClanahan.

"Jalen did a great job of keeping (McClanahan) in front of him and not getting broken down," Brookman said. "(McClanahan) is a very good player."

By the time McClanahan escaped Nesbitt's smothering, the only available pass was to Maurice Taylor on the perimeter. And all Taylor really had time do to was fire.

"It looked like it was going to be good," Brookman said. "Fortunately for us, it was just a little off."

There was no chance for an offensive rebound or a change of strategy because Kilgore let 20 seconds tick away before calling that final timeout. So Brookman's decision with 7.5 seconds left may have kept SMC from suffering its first loss of the season and heading home disappointed from the NJCAA tournament.

<p>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Down by two points with 7.5 seconds remaining, Kilgore (Texas) College head coach Brian Hoberecht came up with what he thought was a perfect play against the 2-3 zone defense Spartanburg Methodist had been using the entire game.</p><p>One problem. SMC switched to a 1-3-1 zone.</p><p>Confused and a bit panicked, the Rangers could only manage a long 3-point shot that was guarded by two SMC players, DaQuan Jeffries and D.J. Coleman. </p><p>The ball bounced off the rim as the final horn sounded and the Pioneers held on for a 53-51 win to make the quarterfinals of the NJCAA tournament at the Hutchinson (Kan.) Sports Arena.</p><p>"We drew up a set play and they did a good job of not allowing it to happen," Hoberecht said. "That's what you run into in tournaments like this when you don't get to see a team three or four times. The play that we drew up would have been better suited against the 2-3 zone. That's my fault in preparation, not knowing that they might go to a 1-3-1 right there. … I thought we got a decent look at it. The ball had a chance to go in. But it wasn't our first or second option."</p><p>In the other huddle, SMC head coach Jeff Brookman had decided, to put it in baseball language, to throw Kilgore a late-breaking curve ball.</p><p>"I figured (Hoberecht) was probably looking for us to come out in what we'd been doing the whole game," Brookman said. "But we've done this in the past. The guys are comfortable doing it. I asked them if that's what they felt comfortable in doing to get a stop and they said yes.</p><p>"… With the 1-3-1, we're playing the passing lanes. The 2-3 is more packed in. Instead of that, we're extended a little bit and trying to use our length. With only seven seconds left, we wanted to slow them up for a second or two and by the time they realized what we were in, maybe it would be too late."</p><p>What must have rattled the Rangers most is that the front man in SMC's 1-3-1 zone defense is not a guard but one of the biggest players, 6-foor-5 Jalen Nesbitt and his incredible wingspan. He jumped out there on Kilgore point guard Lonnie McClanahan.</p><p>"Jalen did a great job of keeping (McClanahan) in front of him and not getting broken down," Brookman said. "(McClanahan) is a very good player."</p><p>By the time McClanahan escaped Nesbitt's smothering, the only available pass was to Maurice Taylor on the perimeter. And all Taylor really had time do to was fire.</p><p>"It looked like it was going to be good," Brookman said. "Fortunately for us, it was just a little off."</p><p>There was no chance for an offensive rebound or a change of strategy because Kilgore let 20 seconds tick away before calling that final timeout. So Brookman's decision with 7.5 seconds left may have kept SMC from suffering its first loss of the season and heading home disappointed from the NJCAA tournament.</p><p>"Great call by Coach," SMC guard Travis Black said. "But that's his job. That's what he does."</p>